13 Feb 2012
To examine what steps New York State can take to make roads safer and protect people from distracted driving crashes
Legislative Office Building
10:00 AM to 12:15 PM Archived Video
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation
Chair: Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr.
Public Hearing: To examine what steps New York State can take to make roads safer and protect people from distracted driving crashes
Place: Van Buren Hearing Room A, Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor, Albany, New York
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Contact: Melissa Kehoe (518) 455-3341
Media Contact: Chris Schneider (516) 882-0630
ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY
Purpose:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 5,400 people were killed and an estimated 448,000 were injured nationwide in crashes involving distracted driving in 2009. In December 2011 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a report on actions states should take to further prevent distracted driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The Committee will review the NTSB’s report and examine what steps New York State can take to make roads safer and protect people from distracted driving crashes.
Discussion will include, but will not limited to: whether New York State’s current distracted driving laws should be strengthened; how enforcement of distracted driving laws can be enhanced; how New York State can better educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving; and how current driver education requirements can be enhanced so that young drivers learn about the dangers of distracted driving at an early age.
Members of the public are invited to watch the hearing and submit written testimony. Oral testimony is by invitation only.
Those expected to testify at the hearing include:
• Christopher Hart- Vice-Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board
• Barbara Fiala- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner & Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Chairperson
• Superintendent Joseph D’Amico- New York State Police
• Jacy Good- board member of FocusDriven and victim of a distracted driving crash
• John Corlette- Legislative Director, AAA New York
• Dr. Jim Hedlund- Principal, Highway Safety North and former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration official
• Wayne Weikel- Director of State Affairs, Auto Alliance
• Kevin Ro- Corporate Manager, Toyota Motor North America
• Alfred Vigna- Driver Education & Technology Teacher, New York State Driver Education Traffic Safety Association
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 5,400 people were killed and an estimated 448,000 were injured nationwide in crashes involving distracted driving in 2009. In December 2011 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a report on actions states should take to further prevent distracted driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The Committee will review the NTSB’s report and examine what steps New York State can take to make roads safer and protect people from distracted driving crashes.
Discussion will include, but will not limited to: whether New York State’s current distracted driving laws should be strengthened; how enforcement of distracted driving laws can be enhanced; how New York State can better educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving; and how current driver education requirements can be enhanced so that young drivers learn about the dangers of distracted driving at an early age.
• Christopher Hart- Vice-Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board
• Barbara Fiala- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner & Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Chairperson
• Superintendent Joseph D’Amico- New York State Police
• Jacy Good- board member of FocusDriven and victim of a distracted driving crash
• John Corlette- Legislative Director, AAA New York
• Dr. Jim Hedlund- Principal, Highway Safety North and former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration official
• Wayne Weikel- Director of State Affairs, Auto Alliance
• Kevin Ro- Corporate Manager, Toyota Motor North America
• Alfred Vigna- Driver Education & Technology Teacher, New York State Driver Education Traffic Safety Association
